14 Unexplained Mysteries That Have Scientists, Historians, And Academics Baffled—And I’m Literally Losing Sleep Over These

When it comes to unsolved mysteries and events in the world, the most popular one that comes to mind is the D.B. Cooper case. It is particularly intriguing and thrilling to learn about, but I’m pretty sure there are more chilling events that we do not know about, and scientists are still scratching their heads trying to crack it. So as always, I sat down and researched all the mysterious moments in history that have yet to be uncovered or solved. And of course—I have found some shockingly curious cases.

Here are 14 unexplained and unsolved events and objects in history that have had every scientist and scholar in the world puzzled for years:

Disclaimer: There are mentions of death, diseases, and gruesome details in the content below. Reader discretion is advised. 

1. The disappearance of 18-year-old Paula Jean Welden, which had no conclusive outcome, has been long discussed amongst people and the media.

18-year-old Paula Welden was a Bennington College student in Vermont. After finishing her shift at the dining antesala at her college, she returned to her room and changed into clothes suitable for a trek. On the afternoon of December 1st, 1946, she left the campus to go for a hike. She had informed her roommate, and she was last seen that afternoon.

Her clothing for the hike was adequate for the afternoon, but not for the drop in temperature that night. She had packed no bag, no extra clothing, or any extra money.

On the hike, several other hikers reported spotting her on the Long Trail, which was off of Route 9 near Glastenbury Mountain. When she did not return to campus the following morning, her roommate reported her missing. There was an extensive search around the trail she went hiking on, and further up the mountain. However, she was not found. There were no signs of her whereabouts anywhere on the trail.

Due to the lack of clues surrounding her disappearance, a number of alternative theories were speculated. Some suggested that she had been distraught while she had headed out for the hike; others claimed that her home life was not as idyllic as her parents had told the police. However, none of these theories materialized, and the case went cold.

To date, there is no knowledge of how she disappeared.

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2. Nine hikers were found dead in 1959 while trekking in the Ural Mountains with inexplicable and strange injuries to their bodies.

On 23rd January, 1959, 10 hikers had gone for a winter trek through Russia’s Ural Mountains. One had returned home due to medical reasons, while the rest of the nine continued forward. They were supposed to send a message back to their sports club three weeks after they had started the trek. When the club didn’t receive any message by February 20th, they sent out a search party. And what they would go on to find was unsettling.

The search party found five of the hikers’ bodies spread over the snow in various states of distress. Some of them had bizarre injuries, with one seeming to have bitten off part of their own knuckle. A few months after the snow melted, investigators found the remaining four hikers. They had even stranger and more gruesome injuries. One had a fractured skull, one had a twisted neck, two were missing eyes, and one of the hikers was also missing her tongue. Their tent was found collapsed and slashed open, as though someone had made the cut from the inside. Clothing and equipment were kept neatly inside, and food was found sliced up on a plate.

The first five students seemed to have died from hypothermia, which can cause erratic behavior. However, the remaining four bodies did not share the same cause of death. Their injuries were so severe that their exact cause of death could not have been determined, and the investigation concluded that the hikers had died from a “compelling natural force.”

Some citizens wondered if it was the Soviet government covering something up. Traces of radiation were found on the hikers’ clothes, which further fueled this theory. Other theories surrounding these mysterious deaths also included yetis, the KGB, and the CIA, although nothing concrete has come out of this.

3. The mysterious encephalitis lethargica epidemic of the 1920s—a disease that left victims like living statues—but no one knew how the epidemic started.

Encephalitis lethargica is an illness that attacks the brain, leaving the victims like living statues—speechless and motionless. This disease turned into a full-blown epidemic around the world in the 1920s. The mysterious part of this epidemic was that no one knew how it started or what caused it.

This affected more than 1 million people, and led to an estimated 500,000 deaths.

This mysterious illness baffled physicians, as patients experienced a wide variety of symptoms like extreme tiredness, sleep disturbances, fevers, headaches, muscle pains, vision issues, psychiatric changes, and even symptoms that resembled Parkinson’s disease. Victims died due to respiratory failure soon after being infected. Those patients in the most extreme cases were left with an immobile face, rigid muscles, and the inability to interact normally with others.

The spread of this disease started around the same time as the Spanish flu pandemic (1918-1920), so it was initially believed that there might have been a link between the two conditions, although it was never proven.

To add more suspense and enigma around this epidemic, no one seemed to have a clue about how it started or how the disease vanished, except for a few isolated cases.

4. The Havana Syndrome, a mysterious neurological malady, affected American diplomats and officials in late 2016.

In late 2016, this strange illness was affecting American officials around the world, and it seemed to have begun in Cuba. Approximately over three dozen diplomats and CIA officers reported suffering from severe headaches, nausea, and hearing unidentifiable grinding, piercing, and noises in their heads. This malady was then known as “Havana Syndrome,” and it was seemingly ruining the health of diplomats, officers, and members of their families who were nearby at the time of these attacks.

Members have felt this illness outside the White House and in several countries around the world, like China, Austria, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

According to this article, by the end of 2022, up to 1,500 US officials had experienced these symptoms. These symptoms also have long-term effects, with some victims having to use hearing aids to help reduce the constant ringing in their ears. The enigma behind this illness is that the cause is still under discussion and debate, with no clear conclusion.

In 2024, a declassified intelligence study report stated that the most probable cause could be “pulsed electromagnetic energy” that could penetrate through building walls. Another report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine stated in 2020 that weaponized microwaves could also be the cause of this syndrome.

5. This bridge in Scotland is where, in an extremely unfortunate and strange event, more than 300 dogs have jumped off.

Over the years, the Overtoun Bridge in Dumbarton, Scotland, has become synonymous with incidents where dogs have been compelled to jump off, ever since the 1950s.

Circunscrito research gave an estimated number of more than 300 dogs having jumped off the bridge. At least 50 dogs have passed away due to this unexplained event. Some rational explanations state that the dogs get into a frenzy due to an overload of scents and the terrain. Some other explanations are more superstitious and paranormal in comparison.

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The bridge’s location, which is very quiet and lush with greenery, fits the description of a “thin place,” which is a spot where heaven and earth overlap according to the pagan Celts. Locals in the area were very superstitious and believed in this idea and that ghosts were present by the bridge. An animal behaviorist investigated this phenomenon and has ruled out that this was a deliberate move by the dogs. He emphasized that the dogs were drawn out to the scent of the mammals below. However, people did not buy this theory as much. They pointed out that if the dogs were attracted to the scents of mammals, this strange phenomenon would be taking place at other bridges in the country—not just this eerie bridge in Scotland.

This is definitely an intriguing and creepy instance, which definitely needs to be explained quickly so that no more dogs go through this experience.

6. One of history’s most enduring mysteries is the final resting place of Queen Cleopatra and Mark Antony.

Queen Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen of the Ptolemaic dynasty, is one of the most famous queens in history. Just as her political and personal life is etched in history books as highly significant, there is one final mystery regarding the queen and her husband, Mark Antony: where their tomb lies.

After the Roman armies of Octavian defeated Cleopatra’s forces, Cleopatra died by suicide after burying Antony, as he too had died. And so, Egypt fell under Roman rule. What history knows is that they were both buried together.

However, now after all these years, we might just be one step away from solving one of the greatest mysteries of the world. A team of underwater archaeologists, National Geographic explorer Kathleen Martinez and Bob Ballard, have uncovered rows of towering structures that may have been columns of over 20 feet in height in the Mediterranean Sea. They also found evidence of polished stone floors, ship anchors, and cemented blocks, all dated to the time of Cleopatra, resembling a port. They found it after tracing an unearthed tunnel that linked the ancient temple of Taposiris Magna, 30 miles west of Alexandria, to the sea.

Kathleen Martinez strongly believes that this port might be a key location in relation to Cleopatra’s tomb; however, it has yet to be confirmed.

But for now, the location of Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s final resting spot still remains a mystery for the world.

7. The sudden and mysterious disappearance of the lighthouse keepers of Flannan Isle in 1900.

The Flannan Isles in Scotland are also sometimes referred to as the Seven Hunters. The lighthouse sits on a 200-foot cliff, and it is a 75-foot-tall white tower. The tower has a range of 20 miles and flashes two white signals every 30 seconds.

In December of 1900, there were three lightkeepers on duty: James Ducat, the principal lightkeeper; Thomas Marshall, the assistant lightkeeper; and Donald McArthur, the occasional keeper.

The first sign that something was not okay at the lighthouse was when a steamer passing the lighthouse at midnight on 15th December noted that the light was not lit. The crew reported this when they arrived at the port; however, there was a delay in communication to the commissioners regarding this.

They only discovered that the lightkeepers were missing on a routine visit to the Lighthouse Tender Hesperus on 26th December, 1900.

Captain Harvie, who was in command of the Hesperus, reported that there was no sign of life on the island and no response made to the horn being sounded. The relieving keeper went to investigate and, upon entering the lighthouse, found no one there. Further investigation was conducted; it was confirmed that the lighthouse was deserted, with the lamps trimmed and ready, the kitchen tidied, and two sets of outdoor clothes missing. There was no trace of the men.

From the records of the keeper’s log, it can be said that all the work was done and set for the 15th of December, suggesting that the men disappeared on the afternoon of the15th.

There was no evidence of the men disappearing or where they went; however, due to traces of bad weather, it was concluded that the men must have left the lighthouse for some purpose in the harsh weather and might have gotten caught in an unexpected wave, and swept into the sea. However, the keepers’ families — and the rest of the world — are still not sure of what happened at the lighthouse.

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8. The Nazca Lines in Peru, which have been the subject of discussion for over 80 years—what are they? How were they formed?

These Nazca lines are found in Nazca, near a region of Escofina, Peru. There are over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures, and 70 animal and plant designs, which are also called biomorphs. Some of them stretch over 30 miles, while the biomorphs range from 50 to 1200 feet in length.

Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe was the first to discover these lines in 1926. However, since the lines were impossible to see from the ground, they were brought to public awareness with the help of airplanes. American professor Paul Kosok investigated the lines and found himself at the foot of a line in 1941, which he found was in direct alignment with the sunset. He had called these lines “the largest astronomy book in the world.” Following him, Maria Reiche from Germany studied these lines extensively for 40 years and became known as the Lady of the Lines.

Maria Reiche battled to protect the site and also fought for her theories regarding the lines’ astronomical and calendrical purpose.

Scientists believe that the majority of the lines were made by the Nasza people around A.D. 1 to 700. Some of the lines are seen to overlap, and some lines look both ancient and of modern origin.

Regarding why the lines were made and how they were made, there are a few theories. The Kosok-Reiche astronomy theories were deemed true till the 1970s, when a group of American researchers studied the glyphs. Johan Reinhard, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, stated in his book The Nazca Lines: A New Perspective on Their Origin and Meanings: “It seems likely that most of the lines did not point at anything on the geographical or celestial horizon, but rather led to places where rituals were performed to obtain water and fertility of crops.”

Another researcher, Anthony Aveni, says that the straight lines and trapezoids were related to water and were in connection with rituals. According to them, the spiral designs and animal symbolism are common throughout the Andes and are found at other Peruvian sites as well. This theory definitely enhances the discussion around these mysterious lines. However, for now, the exact reason behind these lines remains a mystery.

9. Roopkund Lake, a remote lake high up in the Himalayas, holds human skeletons of an estimated 600-800 people.

Roopkund Lake is located 16,500 feet above sea level at the bottom of Trisul, one of India’s highest mountains, in the state of Uttarakhand.

The remains were first discovered by a patrolling British forest ranger in 1942. Depending on the weather, the lake expands and shrinks. When the snow melts, the skeletons are visible, sometimes with flesh attached and some quiebro well preserved. The regional government describes this lake as a mystery lake.

Over the years, scientists and anthropologists have studied the remains and remain puzzled over the origin of these bodies and how they ended up in this state.

One old theory states that the remains are associated with an Indian king, his wife, and their attendants, who perished in a blizzard 870 years ago. Another theory suggests that the remains are of Indian soldiers who tried to invade Tibet in 1841 but were defeated, and died on their way back. One more theory states that this could have been a cemetery of victims of an epidemic. According to the regional villagers, a popular folk song talks about how Goddess Nanda Devi created a hailstorm “as hard as iron,” which killed people winding their way past the lake.

Studies of the skeletons have found that most of the people who died were taller than the promedio stature. They were aged between 35 and 50, all of reasonably good health. It was assumed that the skeletons were of a single group of people who died at merienda due to an incident in the 9th century.

However, the latest study might just prove these assumptions wrong. This study revealed that the skeletons were genetically diverse and their time of death was separated in time by as much as 1000 years. One group of people had genetics similar to people in South Asia, whereas another group was closely related to people living in present-day Europe.

Additionally, genetic studies found no evidence of any ancient germen in the lake that could provide an explanation of disease as the cause of death. Nonetheless, we still do not know the exact reason why there are so many remains at this lake, how they died, and where the people came from.

10. The Antikythera Mechanism, the 2100-year-old ‘computer’ from Ancient Greece.

In 1900, Greek divers discovered a wreckage off the coast of Antikythera. It had been buried on the bed of the Aegean Sea since 65 BCE and is one of the largest shipwrecks ever found. More than 300 objects were found, but none were more intriguing and mysterious than the Antikythera mechanism, the world’s first “computer.”

This mechanism was discovered on what is believed to be a trading or cargo ship. In the 1970s, the importance of this bronze mechanism was uncovered as it was revealed that the device was a complex machine with at least 30 gear wheels.

The analysis suggests that this mechanism is the first known astronomical calendar, used to track and predict the cycles of the solar system. It seems to be a calculator rather than a computer, and researchers have been using imaging methods to examine the mechanism’s structure and functions.

In 2016, it was revealed that much of the inscription and texts on its surface suggested that it was a philosopher’s guide to the galaxy. Around 95% of the text has been deciphered; however, the full text has not been released.

The size of this device is that of a shoebox, with dials on the front and back. The front of this mechanism pointed to the location of the sun and moon along with a display of the phases of the moon.  This device is currently in the Greek National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It was estimated to be built around 87 BC and was lost in 76 BC.

We still do not know how this artifact got onto a Roman ship or the precise use of this device.

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11. Scholars and scientists are still trying to decode this enigmatic artifact, the Phaistos Disc.

This fired-clay disc was discovered in 1908, written in a language that nobody has been able to identify or decipher. It was found 40 miles south of Heraklion, Crete, in Phaistos. This place was inhabited as early as 4000 BC, and it was an important Minoan city. This artifact was found in the site’s Old Palace, which dates back to 1900-1700 BC.

It is an ancient decorated cylinder made of fired clay. It has symbols etched on both its sides. There are 242 hieroglyph-like images in all, with 45 different symbols as well as dashes and dots.

The symbols on the disc appear to have been stamped onto the clay using metal dies. This makes the disc one of the most unusual and oldest known forms of moveable type or objects created using moveable components. There have been numerous attempts to decipher this unknown language, with linguists trying to fit the symbols into any known writing system. There has been no result or conclusive answer to this yet. The symbols have been most commonly compared to Ancient Greek dialects or a mix of Minoan, Mycenean, Anatolian, Semitic, and even Indo-European writings.

What is the disc’s purpose or meaning? That is a question that has garnered intense debates. Some theories state that it is a list of religious centers, a healing ritual inscription, a poem, a hymn, a curse, or a court list, to name a few. A linguist in 2017 claimed that it might have been a prayer to the Minoan earth goddess, Aphaia.

Experts have still not agreed on one singular explanation behind this disc and the language inscribed on it.

12. The chilling disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

On March 8th, 2014, a flight flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared after takeoff with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board.

Flight 370 took off at 12:41 AM from Kuala Lumpur. The last voice communication from the crew onboard was at 1:19 AM, and then at 1:21 AM, the plane’s transponder, which communicated with the air traffic control, was shut off just as they were about to enter Vietnamese airspace. Soon after, the Malaysian and Vietnamese radar lost contact with the plane over the Andaman Sea. The plane was no longer visible on the radar.

The flight was expected to arrive in Beijing at 6:30 regional time in Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines issued a statement that the flight was missing after contact was lost. The distance between the satellite and plane placed it within the search zone of 46,000 square miles of the southern Indian Ocean, which is a vast area of the ocean.

It was assumed that the plane flew out across the Andaman Sea before turning in the direction of the Southern Indian Ocean, where it ran out of fuel and plunged into the water. Although this has not been confirmed, and what exactly happened to the plane is still unknown. Some theories suggest that one of the pilots took control of the plane and deliberately crashed it, but there is no hard evidence to support this theory. Another was that the plane was hijacked by terrorists, although this theory has largely been debunked.

A multinational search, which was led by Australia, failed to locate the flight. Though pieces of debris discovered later, that were believed to be from the plane along the East Africa coast and on Indian Ocean islands. However, no main wreckage or bodies have been recovered.

A deep-sea search of the plane began again in December 2025 in the Indian Ocean.

13. The famous mystery behind the lost colony of Roanoke in 1590.

In 1587, John White, along with 118 men, women, and children, went on an expedition from England for the New World. They reached Roanoke Island near present-day North Carolina on July 22nd. During the first few months, there were scarce resources, tense relations with the Indigenous Algonquian, and harsh winter conditions. John White sailed back to England for more supplies but only returned three years later. When he returned on August 18th, 1590, he found the colony empty with no inhabitants.

There were just two clues left: the word ‘CRO’ carved into a tree and the word ‘CROATOAN’ carved into a palisade. There were no signs of a struggle or hasty escape, but simply that the colonists had vanished.

One popular theory regarding this mysterious disappearance is that the colonists moved and joined the Hatteras, a group of Native people, on the nearby Croatoan Island. Some evidence to back this theory is that there were objects found within Croatoan villages that only English settlers had owned. This helped solidify the connection between the colonists and the Hatteras tribe.

Nonetheless, the auténtico reason and fact behind this unusual disappearance are still highly debated.

14. The isolated Houska Castle and its chilling gateway to hell.

This castle was built in the 13th century, in an isolated region of the Czech Republic, close to the German border. It was quiebro far away from the nearest water source, town, or trade route. There is also no evidence that it used to be someone’s home or that it was of political significance. So why was it built in the first place? This just added to the mystical allure of the castle.

All of these factors added to the theories and myths surrounding the castle, calling it “the gateway to hell.” In the 13th century, regional residents reported strange happenings in the dense forest of Houska. There were stories of a bottomless pit and myths of winged beasts emerging from its depths.

According to one legend, the regional duke, who was determined to eradicate any rumors of hellish happenings, had a young prisoner lowered into the hole. No one expected the hole to be so deep. When they heard a scream from the hole, they pulled the prisoner back up, and seemingly, the boy had aged 40 years and was found in an incredibly disturbed state. After this incident, the duke took action and built the Houska Castle directly on top of it. As a defense against anything dark or evil, a chapel was constructed directly above the pit.

Wow, that was a lot to digest. I cannot believe that humans have advanced so far in science and technology, and yet don’t have answers to these curious events and objects (especially for that castle; I NEED to know what it is hiding). What other unexplained or unsolved event or object of history has you puzzled? Let us know in the comments.

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